Vic Metro has prevailed over South Australia by 26 points to show why they are favourites to take out this year’s NAB U/18 AFL Championships as Toby Prime reports.
Gun centre-half forward Jonathon Patton proved the difference between the two teams with five majors, doing his draft prospects no damage.
Vic Metro captain Billy Longer was superb in the ruck for VIC Metro, utilising his height and 95 kilogram frame to full advantage around the stoppages to help set up outside run for the Metro midfielders.
Basked in sunlight at Skilled Stadium, Metro started the better of the two sides locking the ball inside their forward 50, not allowing South Australia the chance to carry the ball through the middle.
South Australian Chad Wingard was concussed late in the first quarter after a fierce tackle saw his head driven into the Skilled Stadium turf.
At quarter-time, Metro held an 11-point lead with South Australia down to three men on the bench due to Wingard’s concussion.
Vic Metro had the better of the play in the second quarter but couldn’t capitalise on their forward 50 entries.
On the contrary, South Australia took full advantage of their entries trailing by one point late in the second quarter.
But on the half time siren, Patton goaled to put Metro up by seven points at the main break.
Metro continued their imposing style early in the third quarter opening up a 20-point lead halfway through the quarter.
It appeared South Australia might be able to will themselves back into the contest replying with two goals of their own to close the margin to eight points.
At this stage, it was all South Australia with the visitors increasing their tackling rate for the first time in the match putting Metro under scoreboard pressure.
However South Australian coach Brenton Phillips would have been seeing red after a double 50 metre penalty gifted Alex Woodward a goal from the goal square.
Once again, it was that man Patton who stepped up in the final minute to give Metro their 20-point lead at the final change.
The big Eastern Ranges centre-half forward then stepped up again in the first minute of the final term booting his fourth major, giving Metro a 26-point lead.
For South Australia, the 26-point margin could have been a lot worse had Metro been accurate in front of goal with 10 scoring shots to four in the final quarter.
Metro now await their arch rival Vic Country when the two teams meet on Wednesday night at Etihad Stadium, while South Australia meet Western Australia.
Vic Metro 3.2 4.5 9.7 10.16 (76)
South Australia 1.3 3.4 6.5 7.8 (50)
Goals:
Metro: Patton 5, Frost, Curran, Woodward, Viney, Tyson
South Australia: Hender 2, Kennedy 2, McDonough, Grigg, Mayes
Best:
Metro: Patton, Longer, Ellis, Sumner, Kennedy, Newnes, Greene, Viney
South Australia: McKay, Amato, Mayes, Neale
Last Modified on 04/07/2011 17:08
